Guidebook for Helsinki
Arts & Culture
A famous old public sauna, the last one heated with wood. In the old days, apartments did not have showers. Saunas were the places to go to wash yourself thoroughly. Men and women bath separately.
151 locals recommend
Kotiharjun Sauna
1 HarjutorinkatuA famous old public sauna, the last one heated with wood. In the old days, apartments did not have showers. Saunas were the places to go to wash yourself thoroughly. Men and women bath separately.
Contemporary dance, musicals, guest performances, of course finnish theatre as well. And the building itself is a very fine example of architecture of the sixties.
18 locals recommend
Helsingin Kaupunginteatteri
2 Ensi linjaContemporary dance, musicals, guest performances, of course finnish theatre as well. And the building itself is a very fine example of architecture of the sixties.
An amusement park. Free entrance to the area. One of the oldest wooden rollercoasters in the world! Some attractions for small kids are for free. A whole day ticket charges around 30€.
220 locals recommend
Linnanmaki
1 TivolikujaAn amusement park. Free entrance to the area. One of the oldest wooden rollercoasters in the world! Some attractions for small kids are for free. A whole day ticket charges around 30€.
A former electric plant, transforming into a urban cultural hotspot. Big events like the famous Flow-festival, offering electronic music, as well as grass root activities.
27 locals recommend
Suvilahti
1 KaasutehtaankatuA former electric plant, transforming into a urban cultural hotspot. Big events like the famous Flow-festival, offering electronic music, as well as grass root activities.
Everything Else
A place to play football or basketball, in the winter a skating rink.
13 locals recommend
Brahenkenttä
25a HelsinginkatuA place to play football or basketball, in the winter a skating rink.
A nice small square, essential for the neighborhood of Kallio. Very lively on restaurant days. Kiosks, bars, café's in the immediate surrounding.
39 locals recommend
Karhupuisto station
A nice small square, essential for the neighborhood of Kallio. Very lively on restaurant days. Kiosks, bars, café's in the immediate surrounding.
Kulttuurisauna
17 HakaniemenrantaThe cultural sauna. Designed by a finnish-japanese couple. Zen.
Entertainment & Activities
A playground for both kids and parents. In the summer, (june/july) football school for free at 10am. Free soup lunch for kids- a remainder of the hard times after WW2. Bring your own plate and spoon!
Ilolanpuisto
Toinen linjaA playground for both kids and parents. In the summer, (june/july) football school for free at 10am. Free soup lunch for kids- a remainder of the hard times after WW2. Bring your own plate and spoon!
The Helsinki Zoo is situated on an island. You approach it with bus or by boat from either Hakaniemi or Kauppatori. You see Tigers, Lions, Snow Leopards etc.
Korkeasaari station
The Helsinki Zoo is situated on an island. You approach it with bus or by boat from either Hakaniemi or Kauppatori. You see Tigers, Lions, Snow Leopards etc.
Feels like being on an island... well, actually is. Sandy beaches, Tallinn ferries passing by, leisure boat port. Picnic, barbecue, gorgeous rocks. Boats leave in front of Cafe Carusel.
49 locals recommend
Pihlajasaari
Feels like being on an island... well, actually is. Sandy beaches, Tallinn ferries passing by, leisure boat port. Picnic, barbecue, gorgeous rocks. Boats leave in front of Cafe Carusel.
Different types of traditional finnish buildings have been moved here from all around Finland. Also a nice beach to sunbath and swim.
174 locals recommend
Seurasaari
15 SeurasaarentieDifferent types of traditional finnish buildings have been moved here from all around Finland. Also a nice beach to sunbath and swim.
Sightseeing
One of the many churches Lars Sonck designed. Finnish national romantic style.
63 locals recommend
Kallio Church
2 Itäinen PapinkatuOne of the many churches Lars Sonck designed. Finnish national romantic style.
Magnificent fortress island in front of Helsinki. Begun under swedish reign, continued under Russia. Older than most of Helsinki. Cafe's, restaurant, own brewery. Great for one day off.
430 locals recommend
Suomenlinna
Magnificent fortress island in front of Helsinki. Begun under swedish reign, continued under Russia. Older than most of Helsinki. Cafe's, restaurant, own brewery. Great for one day off.
Drinks & Nightlife
A nice place to have a talk with your friends, maybe planning which nightclub to enter – or then you end up staying for the whole evening.
35 locals recommend
Sivukirjasto
5 FleminginkatuA nice place to have a talk with your friends, maybe planning which nightclub to enter – or then you end up staying for the whole evening.
A tiny place with cool bar keepers. The last time I was there, they where from France and, hm, perhaps Ireland?
25 locals recommend
Musta Kissa Bar
15 Toinen linjaA tiny place with cool bar keepers. The last time I was there, they where from France and, hm, perhaps Ireland?
Kaiku
4 KaikukatuBar and night club next to the academy of fine arts. Live acts.
An odd place with a special, sometimes a little bit grumpy feeling. Like out of a Aki Kaurismäki movie.
24 locals recommend
Pub Sirdie
21 Kolmas linjaAn odd place with a special, sometimes a little bit grumpy feeling. Like out of a Aki Kaurismäki movie.
Food Scene
A big, but still cosy restaurant/bar with great food – I usually eat pizza there. Not very original, I know, but who cares. Also live acts.
42 locals recommend
Juttutupa
6 SäästöpankinrantaA big, but still cosy restaurant/bar with great food – I usually eat pizza there. Not very original, I know, but who cares. Also live acts.
A nice place for a small walk with the sea breeze around your nose, and perhaps the lions growls to be heared from Korkeasaari. Brunch on sundays.
43 locals recommend
Tervasaari
A nice place for a small walk with the sea breeze around your nose, and perhaps the lions growls to be heared from Korkeasaari. Brunch on sundays.
Silvoplee
3 Toinen linjaDelicious vegetarian food.
Lemon Grass
12 Kolmas linjaSaid to be one of the, if no the best, thai restaurant in town.
An all time classic. My number one favorite. Great finnish food, stylish original fifties interior. Vorschmack, snails, baltic herring, perch pike à la Mannerheim. It doesn't get better than this.
97 locals recommend
Sea Horse
11 KapteeninkatuAn all time classic. My number one favorite. Great finnish food, stylish original fifties interior. Vorschmack, snails, baltic herring, perch pike à la Mannerheim. It doesn't get better than this.
Very nice to place to enjoy the sea and leisure port views. Big windows, big outdoor terrace. Great pizza.
71 locals recommend
Cafe Carusel
10 MerisatamanrantaVery nice to place to enjoy the sea and leisure port views. Big windows, big outdoor terrace. Great pizza.
Newly built, fancy architecture. A place to see and be seen. Be sure to wear sun glasses...
70 locals recommend
Kaivopuiston Mattolaituri Oy
3 A EhrenströmintieNewly built, fancy architecture. A place to see and be seen. Be sure to wear sun glasses...
Another classic. Great food, elegant atmosphere. On the lower end of the pricier category.
31 locals recommend
Elite
22 Eteläinen HesperiankatuAnother classic. Great food, elegant atmosphere. On the lower end of the pricier category.
Fine dining? Great food? Live music played by a pianist while eating? Three times yes. Pricy, but worth it.
41 locals recommend
Restaurant Story
EtelärantaFine dining? Great food? Live music played by a pianist while eating? Three times yes. Pricy, but worth it.
A sunny terrace overlooking the small bay of "Tokoinlahti". Almost on spot of the main place of the Helsinki festival weeks in august.
33 locals recommend
Cafe Piritta
12 EläintarhantieA sunny terrace overlooking the small bay of "Tokoinlahti". Almost on spot of the main place of the Helsinki festival weeks in august.
Another nice spot for a cafe. Great view overlooking the Töölö bay with Finlandia hall, national opera, national museum, music hall etc. The bridge over the railroad: perfect trainspotting place.
73 locals recommend
Sinisen Huvilan Kahvila
11 H LinnunlauluntieAnother nice spot for a cafe. Great view overlooking the Töölö bay with Finlandia hall, national opera, national museum, music hall etc. The bridge over the railroad: perfect trainspotting place.
Sandro Kallio
17 Kolmas linjaCosy, trendy, livingroomlike.
Essentials
The best market hall of Helsinki. You get whatever is good and tasty in Finland or abroad. On the upper floor also some design and souvenir shops. On the market square market in the morning.
185 locals recommend
Hakaniemi Market Hall
1 HämeentieThe best market hall of Helsinki. You get whatever is good and tasty in Finland or abroad. On the upper floor also some design and souvenir shops. On the market square market in the morning.